Nicaragua - Blueberry Candy

La Bastilla Coffee Estates owns two coffee farms in Nicaragua, La Bastilla in Jinotega and Santa Luz in Matagalpa. The estate is fully independent, using its own resources for every stage of the operation from seed to export container. La Bastilla works closely with F.E.E.R; the Foundation for Rural Education and Entrepreneurship which engages the farms youth to promote quality education. The estate has around 50 permanent staff and up to 500 temporary staff during harvest. Production is 4000 sacks per year.

Situated approximately 20 kilometres from Jinotega, the farm is adjacent to the Datanli el Diablo Nature Reserve, an important biological reserve in the Jinotega area. The farm itself covers 311 hectares with 160 hectares under coffee cultivation. The remaining area is mostly primary forest protected by law through its proximity to the nature reserve. This forest area provides La Bastilla with a unique microclimate and sanctuary for a number of plant, animal and bird species. Some land on the estate is dedicated as an agricultural area used by La Bastilla Agricultural Technical School. Opened in 2008, the school trains students in agriculture and eco-tourism.